Vakcinet

Name of the activity: Vakcinet

Country/NMO: Slovenia (SloMSIC)

Program: Communicable Diseases

Type of the activity: Education. Education on health issues for specific societal groups, either in the form of projects (set of tasks for a certain group over a fixed period of time), events (something notable that happens) or conferences (form meeting about ideas related to a particular topic, usually over several days).

General description:

Vakcinet is a project established by medical students from Faculty of Medicine University of Maribor, Slovenia, whose vision is to spread reliable information about vaccines and vaccination. Vakcinet’s main method for information dissemination are lectures intended for parents and future parents, children and young adults (high school and university students) workers in the hospital and the medical students. Members of the project believe that unless the people understand the importance of vaccination, we will not be able to increase the percentage of immunization in population and prevent new epidemics of infectious diseases. Thus, the project will continue with its work towards creating a community that trusts the vaccines and believes in their efficiency.

Focus area:

Work to increase rate of Vaccination

Problem statement:

Vakcinet has a vision to spread reliable information about vaccination and to remove the prejudice about the dangers of vaccines. In recent years, there has been a drop in vaccionation rates all over the world. Last year, we have witnessed measles outbreaks in many European countries (Serbia, Italy, etc.). According to the WHO guidelines the vaccination rate needed to prevent measles outbreak is 95 % – global vaccination coverage remains at 85 %. Hence the need for projects like Vakcinet.

Target groups:

General population, Medical students, Healthcare Students, Other Students, Doctors, Other health professionals, Youth, Parents and future parents

Beneficiaries:

General population, Medical students, Healthcare Students, Other Students, Doctors, Other health professionals, Children, Youth

Objectives and indicators of success:

Primary goals:

1. Organizing a consultation on importance of vaccination in March 2019.

2. Organizing an educational workshop about communication with “anti-vaxxers”, meant for students from health-related faculties.

3. Organizing an educational afternoon for members of the project, in order to boost and refresh their knowledge about vaccines and vaccination.

4. Give at least 15 lectures at parents’ schools and elementary schools (lectures on HPV vaccine for parents of 6th grade pupils) by the end of 2019.

5. Give at least 20 lectures at secondary schools by the end of 2019.

6. Preserve or increase achieved vaccination rate against influenzae among medical students of the Faculty of Medicine University of Maribor at 74 %.

Secondary goals:

1. Implementation of promotion of the project and the importance of vaccination during the Health Week and the World Immunization Week in April 2019.

2. Gain 1000 likes on Facebook until the end of year 2019 and increase the number of people reached with reliable information on vaccination.

3. Improve the projects public recognition by publishing articles in different types of media.

Methodology:

Vakcinet’s main method for information dissemination are lectures intended for parents and future parents, children and young adults (high school and university students) workers in the hospital and the medical students. The lectures are both organized and conducted by members of the project. Lectures are personalized according to the target audience. Each lesson will be conducted by one or two students of the Faculty of Medicine University of Maribor.

Another method used for educating the public is organizing a yearly event – consultation on different aspects of vaccination. Such consultations are attended by many students as well as various healthcare workers and are organized in collaboration with different medical specialist.

Third method of our work is via the social media. The project has its own Facebook page on which, we post informative infographics and articles supported by reliable sources.

Plans for evaluation:

Evaluations on the project activities are done used different methods – depending on the type of activity.

– To assess the success of given lectures, the attendees at parents’ schools are given a survey at the end of each lecture, where they can express their opinion on lecture, while also providing with constructive criticism. At secondary school is the evaluation process somewhat different. At the end of their lessons, pupils compete in an online quiz that consists of questions on lessons they just listened to. All target audiences (parents and pupils) are encouraged to ask questions either directly at the end of the lecture, or in private via email or Facebook.

– At bigger events, such as a consultation on vaccination, its successfulness is checked through a short examination before and after consultation. This will also serve as a small research project of the project.

– The success of promotion of vaccination will be determined from the number of vaccinated students.